BREAKING NEWS — Metrobus Hits Cyclist on Glebe Road

A bicyclist was struck by a Metrobus at the intersection of S. Glebe Road and Lang Street this morning.

The bus was traveling eastbound around 9:15 a.m. when it apparently struck the cyclist in or near the intersection. The cyclist suffered a head injury but was conscious when he was loaded into an ambulance and brought to the hospital.

Impact damage was visible on the Metrobus’ windshield.

Arlington County police and Metro personnel were taking photos and measurements of the scene following the accident. Traffic on S. Glebe Road was snarled as police blocked blocked one and periodically both lanes during the investigation.

Just looking at the location, it looks like the cyclist may be at fault here. No crosswalk at that location and he was trying to cross S Glebe.

bobco85

I think you are right. At that intersection, Lang has stop signs from both sides, and the bus would have right-of-way traveling on South Glebe. From the position of the bike (image 4), it looks like the cyclist was trying to access Four Mile Run trail by crossing South Glebe.

I hope the cyclist is okay and that he was wearing a helmet (though I don’t see one in any of the photos). He will probably regret the decision he made this morning.

drax

How do you know he was trying to cross Glebe? He might have been riding on Glebe.

And he doesn’t need a crosswalk to cross if he’s riding on the roadway. He’s a vehicle, not a pedestrian, in that situation.

Let’s not jump to conclusions.

thecharlesriver

If he’s crossing without a crosswalk he better be 1) at an intersection and 2) with right of way. Failure to do so may cause impact with a bus.

Steamboat Willie

As Warner Wolf would say. . . . . .

Let’s go to the videotape!

Daniel

wow…that windshield pic makes me hope s/he was wearing a helmet.

Matt

I thought the same thing. The cop is holding his shoes but I see no helmet.

Concerned

I hope he’s going to be ok.

Kathy

With that kind of impact you can’t infer from the bike’s position what would have happened since the bike and rider would have been thrown.

What ever the case may be, it’s another reminder that segregated cycling infrastructure is best and more funds should be devoted to improving bike/pedestrian infrastructure in the county.

Clarendon Cruiser

…and a reminder that bicyclists should obey traffic laws.

Michael H.

So should everyone else, including drivers. Do you harp on this whenever a car driver gets injured in an accident? A significant percentage of drivers break traffic laws and display reckless behavior on the roads, just as some cyclists do. Pedestrians too.

Many car accidents are caused by drivers speeding, texting while driving, drinking while driving, ignoring red lights and stop signs, and so on.

Carol_R

Hey,

While a few and I EMPHASIZE few motorists may not obey the traffic laws, 90% or more bicyclists I observe while driving or walking FAIL to obey basic traffic laws like stopping at a red light and/or a STOP sign. They blatantly disregard traffic laws and appear to think that they don’t apply to them.

cyclist

Yeah, I see alot of that. Lots of cars and pedestrians also failing to obey basic traffic laws too.

Brad

Carol, are you serious? You think most motorists never exceed the speed limit, never talk on the cell phones, always obey traffic signs (yield, no lane change, etc), and always wear their seatbels? Where on earth are you driving! Instead of ridiculing bicyclists because you have some pet peeve against them, why don’t you thank them for being one less driver.

Jonathan Krall

Studies show that all road users proceed in a ways that they feel are safe, including when they break the law. Motorists speed and say they are “driving with the flow of traffic.” Cyclists jump the red light and say they are “avoiding the dangerous antics of drivers who try to go around them while they are still getting up to speed.” Cyclists are not some weird species of law-breakers (if they were there would dead cyclists all over the road). Most of them own cars and are motorists too.

BTW, surveys show that about 90% of drivers think they are above average, I kid you not (Google it). My conclusion is that driving makes people crazy. After all, motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death in humans between the ages of 1 and 50. Now excuse me while I send this text…

CW

I respectfully disagree with the segregated cycling infrastructure comment, as unless it is completely segregated everywhere, which is impossible, it just makes drivers oblivious to and thus unaware of the presence of cyclists. But that’s off topic.

Jonathan Krall

I respectfully disagree. In NYC, miles of bike lanes have been added in the past three years. The result was a large increase in cyclists and no increase in cycling fatalities. Similarly, in European cities there are many more miles of separated bike lanes and much more awareness of cyclists on the road (compared to typical American cities). This awareness comes about because cyclists and motorists must interact at intersections.

More bike lanes => more cyclists => more awareness of cyclists => more safety => less pollution => more health => less government $$$ spent on heath care… and so on.

Carol_R

Then bicyclists should start paying taxes for all these bike lanes and they should require them to pass a test and be licensed in order to ride on public streets.

cyclist

Cyclists do pay taxes that support infrastructure. About half of infrastructure funding now comes from general funds, not excise taxes (the gas tax, etc).

A license? Maybe. Though by extension we could say you should need a license to be a pedestrian and cross a street.

Brad

Sort of like pedestrians pay taxes for sidewalks? I hope you’re genuinely stupid enough to think that cyclists don’t pay taxes, or don’t drive cars, or don’t even take the Metro. I’m sure your solution would be more cars on the road. Clearly that will help everything. Give me a break. I drive, ride Metro and bike to work–I think your points are silly.

CW

Europe is a bad comparison because they are frankly more cognizant of everything over there and cycling has been an acceptable, recognized mode of transportation for decades (as opposed to here, where it is considered a fringe method of commuting for weirdos or poor people).

NYC, ok, but how many of those cycle lanes are blocked at any given time?

Yes, those who don’t clog the roads or ride the always-broken Metro are by default wierdos or poor. As an apparent CW-annoted weirdo, I beat Metro and driving when I bike home and use the MUPs/dedicated lanes. You don’t have to like it, but you should appreciate me not being one more person backing up 395 at 5:30pm. The reality of bicyclists is you get a mix of people–some doing it for environmental reasons, others for exercise, some to save money, and some just because they like cycling.

CW

Whoa dude, put down the spoke wrench, I’m on your side here. I guess you could misconstrue from reading my post in isolation, but I was referring to the general perception by drivers in this country, most of whom will refer to cyclists as either hippies, poor people, Lance-wannabes, or other pejorative descriptions. If you read my other posts, you’ll see that I’m a pretty fierce advocate of vehicular cycling and helmets, and that I am curious about strange modifications to old-school bikes.

I put in a couple thousand miles a year on two wheels around here, so you can chill the heck out…

Chinny McChipstah

Completely agree with segregating bikes from cars. I run and cycle on WO&D. I’ll ride early in the morning on the road but that’s it. I would love to go grocery shopping, pick up the kids (they ride their bikes too) go the bank etc. on my bike and I always obey traffic signals but too scared I’ll get hit by a car. If we made the investment in dedicated cycling lanes, I know many more people, like myself (a regular ol’ 40+ mom) would cycle everywhere!

theostav

I have no sympathy for cyclists that don’t obey the law but if the bus driver was at fault here he needs to be punished.

Good Grief

Lets just hope the cyclist is okay. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians make mistakes. Doesn’t mean anyone deserves to be hurt.

Josh S

Is there room in your world view for an accident? Blame doesn’t necessarily need to be apportioned everywhere.

I think that it sucks to be both of these people right now.

Jonathan Krall

Hmmmm… have you considered a mental health assessment?

Michael H.

So every cyclist who breaks a traffic law deserves serious bodily harm, but every driver deserves a free pass, or admiration? (Not saying who was at fault in this case.) That’s seriously messed up, and a biased view of what happens on the roads. Some cyclists disobey traffic laws but a heck of a lot of car drivers do too, endangering themselves as well as others on the roads and sidewalks. No cyclist, driver or pedestrian deserves a serious head injury.

CW

Is that a Lemond that’s been outfitted with straight bars?

Stitch_Jones

Seriously? That’s what you care about?

CW

It’s not the only thing; I was just curious.

Clarendon Cruiser

Since when do Arlington Police cruise around in white Mercedes Benz Sedans? 😉 and I wonder why my local taxes are so high!

That was the personal vehicle of someone who appeared to be an off-duty paramedic, nurse or doctor. She stopped to help the victim.

JamesE

Did they pay their property tax and have their sticker correctly displayed?

Clarendon Cruiser

I understand, and I appreciate their efforts and glad somebody nearby acted to assist.

ArlRes

I bike regularly as well, and while the bus drivers could be more courteous, I’ve yet to encounter one that is any worse of an offender than the average car or truck driver on their cell phone.

Regarding the bike infrastructure in Arlington, I’d say it’s infinitely better than 95% of the nation, we just take for granted what we already have. I love having the Arlington loop and other trails to take advantage of. That said, it can always be better, but in this instance for example, there were 3 crosswalks all within a block of the cyclist. While it’s true we can’t tell for certain if he was crossing Glebe or not, The other possibility is he was riding his bike in the left lane of glebe road and he was rear ended by the bus, which is highly unlikely.

Definitely hope the cyclist is okay, since he more than likely wasn’t wearing a helmet. The impact point is on the windshield is rather centralized, with a helmet it would probably be a little more dispersed. Really upsets me when I see something like this, because not wearing a helmet and not following the rules of the road really makes cyclists look bad.

I don’t see you getting this upset about people blaming the bicyclist. In fact, you seem to suggest it was his fault, not the bus driver’s. How can you admonish someone for making unfounded accusations and then turn around and do the very same thing?

Teyo

This comment was in reply to someone, but it seems that comment is gone now and I can’t delete my own… oh well.

susan

It appears that the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet and was dressed in black from head to toe. Why isn’t the bicyclist community demanding a comprehensive safety program? What is the attraction of wearing dark colored or black clothing while bicycling? Whatever it is it’s a FATAL attraction.

bobco85

To answer one of your questions, there is a comprehensive safety program in the cycling community. Just look at the websites for BikeArlington and WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association), among others. They feature a variety of safety guides, offer classes involving on-street cycling for cyclists both commuter and recreational, and every now and then a program is held to give out free bike lights. It’s pretty comprehensive. The onus is on the cyclists to follow these guidelines.

Regarding the dark clothing, in daylight it does not matter what color a cyclist wears. If this were nighttime, then he would need to have a light/reflectors as required by law.

Carol_R

Bicyclists should have to pass a test just like motor vehicle drivers and be licensed. Plus they should have to pass an eye test.

dTagg

I would actually bet you that most motorists do not even understand hand gestures… for example, turning or stopping. That is always something that concerns me as a cyclist riding with motorist traffic.

cyclist

I know a few good hand gestures.

Confused

What do you mean “bicylcists should demand a comprehensive safety program?” And why does it matter if he was wearing black? It was a bright morning, not a rainy day or a dark night. It would be sad IF he was not wearing a helmet and IF it was his fault IF he darted in front of the bus. But we don’t know anything yet.

KP

My brother was behind the Metro Bus and was first on the scene. There was no helmet and the bus was not at fault. The biker was not conscious. My brother kept him alive until the paramedics arrived.

Clarendon Cruiser

Give your brother my regards. He had the right perspective to stop and render assistance.

charlie

thank you.

Cindy

FYI – about 150 bicycle and pedestrian accidents are reported in Arlington every year. That’s way too many.

C.D.

Arlington Yupette blog has posted a resident’s request for the County to develop a comprehensive bicyclist, pedestrian, skateboarder, motor vehicle safety program. Also to repave our shabby streets.

soarlslacker

The payment here is darn shabby. After having my teeth rattled driving in an suv there are lots of roads which I would never ride my bike on. I have observed that Arl Cty appreas to hire to lowest, low cost bidder and many of the repairs do not even last 1 year.

nom de guerre

Most streets/roads around here remind me of the cobblestones found in Europe.

DSS10

Just 15 feet away from this accident is a dedicated bike lane. I came down Glebe this morning and there was a bike commuter riding on Glebe from George Mason to Rt1 in the right lane causing traffic to be slowed down and a couple of near accidents. If there is a bike path or dedicated the rider should not be on the road. If the rider was crossing Glebe, then wait for the cross light instead of using the left hand turn lane….. I’m all for bike commuting and sharing the road but bikers also have to accommodate cars too.

marginally slowed and yet still alive

I can hear the anger in your post – I think you’ve confused a bike lane (often blocked) and a multiuse trail and might even be disoriented from the blood in your eyes, as I’m not sure where Glebe and George Mason intersect.

I’d be willing to bet that the cyclist causing you to delay for 10 or 15 seconds didn’t have the goal of annoying you, so don’t take it personally.

Josh

Actually, if there is a dedicated bike lane the biker has two options, and so do you. 1. Realize that sharing the road means sharing the road, or 2. Take another route.

Eric

Cyclists need to be smarter

5555624

Good point, since most motor vehicle operators have an IQ lower than their vehicles mpg.

Carol_R

Plus they need to pay taxes for riding on public roads and pass a test and be licensed.

Brad

Carol, they should be given tax breaks for easing traffic instead of paying the same taxes everyone else does.

dirty biker

Ok, that’s three times you’ve said it. Your prize? Derision…

I DO pay taxes; a substantial amount of which go to subsidize YOUR curmudgeonly rear on the streets that I don’t directly use and a small portion of which subsidize the great trail system (which I use daily). As far as a “bike license” goes- it’s not a terrible idea but I challenge you with a way of implementing it without consuming a vast amount of public (i.e. tax) resources for little presumed gain.

Also, this might be a stretch, but I’d bet a steak that you would fail any publicly administered test regarding the rules of the road, particularly regarding motorized vs non motorized vehicle interactions.

Brad

Some cyclists do need to be smarter. As do some drivers and Metrobus operators. Wouldn’t that go without saying? Of course we don’t call everyone on the beltway stupid because one idiot drives into a jersey wall.

terri

It’s sad that in a County with thousands of residents who belong to civic groups there isn’t a demand by many for our broken streets to be repaved. I won’t ride a bicycle in my neighborhood until the worst streets are fixed.

Tabs

Wear helmets, people!

Argh, and yet another incident on Glebe Rd. I avoid it like the plague.

I shutter every time I see someone riding a bike, especially in traffic, without a helmet.

Bluemontsince1961

Me too, Overgrown Bush!

Tabs

shudder

CW

Maybe he takes pictures of them?

Bluemontsince1961

I knew what he meant.

Jonathan Krall

Helmets aren’t magic. In fact, the most recent comprehensive review that I know of, in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention, by Elvik in 2011, says that, for adults,helmets tend to reduce head injuries but increase neck injuries resulting in a minimal net effect.

The only things I am sure of with respect to helmets are a) they make money for people who sell them and b) mandatory helmet laws discourage riding by making it seem less safe than it is. Want to be safe? Don’t go anywhere near a car. Want to be healthy? Ride a bike. Want to waste your money? Buy a helmet.

FunnyMunny

Interesting, but I’m not giving up my brain bucket. If I have to choose between a brain injury and a neck injury, acknowledging the potential seriousness of both, I’m going neck every time.

In other safety news, I hear that if you don’t wear a seat belt, you’re more likely to be thrown clear of the wreckage and, in fact, land on your feet!

dTagg

I appreciate your money saving tips, but on this topic I think you should keep your mouth shut. I had a professor die because he could not unclip at a stop light and hit his head on a curb and died. If he was wearing a helmet he would still be alive and shaping young minds today.

CW

+1. This is the biggest crock I’ve ever seen. I’ve had crashes that shattered a helmet and which I walked away from practically unscathed.

I’d like to perform a controlled laboratory experiment using that “researcher”s head, with and without a helmet, and a piece of concrete. Data doesn’t lie.

Jonathan Krall

Hmmm… your experience seems to, to you, be contrary to the results of scientific analysis. How do we reconcile your experience with the scientific results? Hmmmm…. (think, think, think)…

Here’s a clue: A bicycle helmet is made out of styrofoam and is designed to shatter in impact. I’m guessing that your head has neither of these “features” and that you may very well have come out “practically unscathed” without the helmet.

Another theory was advanced a while ago by a European blogger, who joked that Americans don’t have the good sense to fall on their butts instead of their heads. He may be on to something. After all, I hear that Europeans are “frankly more cognizant of everything.”

CW

This is so ridiculous that I can’t even begin to respond. And yet here I go. Apparently you are not aware of the concept of energy dissipation within materials. Brain damage does not happen due to the skull shattering and the brains pouring out (well, not usually). It happens because the energy is transmitted through an inelastic material (bone) into the brain. The shattering of the helmet absorbs this. Do you really not understand that?

And yes, very cute using my phrasing below, you must be very proud. Unfortunately it is not possible for even the most cognizant person to forsee all crashes when they are created due to the actions of others.

Since you are clearly very cognizant yourself, you should probably stop wearing seat belts when riding in a car. Smart drivers don’t get in accidents, apparently, and I’ve heard that the decelleration due to the seat belts can cause nasty whiplash.

Jonathan Krall

FWIW, the scientific literature supports the idea that seatbelts reduce injuries. As I pointed out above (along with enough info to allow readers to find the journal article and make up their own minds), the scientific literature on bicycle helmets is rather less supportive. I personally don’t see the point of spending money on something that has been studied extensively without being proven to have much value.

Then again, science is not much valued these days. So it goes.

cyclist

That’s why I not only wear a helmet but also don’t use “clipless” pedals.

BK

Mandatory helmet law for bikes!

ArlForester

I’m inclined to blame the bus driver the way most of them drive. I compare them to big dumb whales in the sea just floating in and out of lanes with no regard for cars much less bikes. They drive knowing you will probably move or bear the brunt of the collision.

Dezlboy

The windshield was likely cracked when it flexed due to the impact at a lower point on the bus. Frequently rear windows on hatch backs will crack when rearended and the area below the window is dented – even at low speeds.

Or maybe the bus driver’s cell phone flew out of their hands on impact?

Joe

This bus driver may very well be innocent, but plenty of Metrobus’s drivers are just lousy. A couple of months ago I was riding my bike on the Four Mile Run trail by Crystal City, and turned off to head across S. Glebe Road onto S. Eads Street toward 23rd St. South. As I waited at the light to cross over S. Glebe, a person wearing a Metrobus uniform waddled the other way across S. Glebe Road against the light as he strolled from the bus yard over to the other Metro property right by the Four Mile Run trail.

Naturally, a couple of cars honked at the employee as he crossed against the light, and the employee in turn gestured at the motorists while laughing to himself. I then had the opportunity to address the employee as “Lard-A**” as he reached me, telling him that in fact he was crossing against the light and those motorists were right.

As he started to curse me out, I reminded him about how many people Metro has killed and hurt over the past few years, and asked why he likes to kill people?

Perhaps in the wake of the inevitable blowback from this incident, Metro should take the opportunity to remove Mr. Lard-A** and similar personalities from the rolls. For the good of the system and our populace.

Bluemontsince1961

Amen, Joe.

BlueLoom

Joe: you’re lucky Mr. Lard-A** didn’t whip out one of his 10 guns per month and shoot you. There’s no way I would have engaged someone that way. Of course, I’m a 5’2″, 110-lb female. Maybe you’re a 6’4″ Jack Reacher-type guy and can get away with things like that. But be careful out there: it’s a dangerous world. People have been killed for far less.

thecharlesriver

How does he like to “kill people” because he walked against the light? I don’t get it. You’re blaming this guy for things you perceive others have done??

And if you think you’re a hero because you insulted someone based on their physical appearance, think again. I’d say you should find a mirror….because this man’s behavior in the crosswalk has no bearing on anything other metro employees may or may not have done, nor does it justify your own arrogance.

Brad

Actually, when he’s wearing the Metro uniform his conduct does reflect on other Metro employees. Does your conduct on the job not reflect the organization you work for? I wouldn’t call him a Lard-A**, but I certainly would be upset at him if I were another Metro employee.

thecharlesriver

Ah, no I don’t generalize a person’s individual conduct to an entire group. That’s called stereotyping. And whether he’s wearing a Metro uniform or a Burger King uniform, if he’s crossing against the light he’s an INDIVIDUAL crossing against the light (as so many people do from time to time) and that does not apply to ALL Metro employees anymore than if he’s black it applies to ALL blacks.

cyclist

Let’s all stop generalizing about cyclists too.

thecharlesriver

But since he’s riding a bike doesn’t his conduct reflect on ALL bike riders?

thecharlesriver

And no, I don’t get “upset” when my co workers do things that reflect poorly on THEM, because I don’t take what OTHER people do personally. I know what “I” do and that’s all that matters.

BoredHouseWife

2 people are having very s–ty days.

Peter

The Arlington Green Party and its candidate for County Board, Audrey Clement, are taking the lead on the bicycle, pedestrian, skateboard, and motor vehicle safety issues. Where is County Government, the school system, police, fire, and EMS? Police, fire, and EMS respond to around 150 pedestrian and bicycle accidents every year.

Hank Hill

shouldn’t be focused on the .00001 percent who commute by bike. Time to focus on making the streets better (i.e.adding lanes to 66) and improving Metro Rail.

Michael H.

2.2 percent use bikes to commute in the D.C. area, as of 2009. That’s double what it was a decade before that. While that’s still small, it does tend to indicate that many people didn’t bike because the infrastructure was not there. It was largely designed to facilitate car travel and make cycling very difficult. When new bike lanes, trails, bridge trails and other paths were added in recent years, the numbers of bike commuters began to increase rapidly. The demand was there but the facilities were not.

And that just covers commutes, not bike trips made to run errands, for exercise or to go to other non-work destinations.

Since no mode of transportation is self-sustaining (including the highway system), they all require subsidies from general government funds. Every form of transportation is subsidized, whether it’s driving, mass transit, cycling or walking (pedestrians don’t pay direct usage fees to walk on sidewalks).

cyclist

That’s like telling the Wright Brothers in 1903 that we shouldn’t build any airports because, after all, hardly anybody flies.

Brad

Hank, build it and they will come works both ways in your example. The problem is that historically in the DC area the more we have expanded roads, the more the idiot local governments have permitted development. It’s built into a huge gridlock and when coupled with Metro’s ridiculous 2 track design, you end up with a lackluster public transit system and horrible congestion. Honestly, I think it’s foolish not to encourage more bicycle riding, particularly in heavy-volume traffic areas. Think about it, if you can’t massively expand you roadways or your Metro usage then what do you have left? Convincing people to move closer to work or convincing them to use another means of transit to work–walking, bicycling, rollerblading, shoot even kayaking. The point being is if you grew up around here then you would realize that more bicyclists is a net gain for drivers, not a net loss.

Hank Hill

No matter how much the govt. subsidies bike lines, very few will ever bike to work. Weather issues, danger driving in traffic, runing expensive suiting from the dirt, already have a nice car, lack of a trunk, no radio, and flat don’t want to be teased for riding a bike to work is why most will never ride a bike to work.

I can honestly say I don’t know one person who has ever rode a bike to work.

Greenbelt

I ride my bike to work every day. 6,000+ miles last year. Now you know one. Cheers.

dirty biker

+1 Now you know two (2K miles last year)

cyclist

Now you know three.

Brad

Four

Tabs

I’m a wimp but I know at least 20 people at work who get there by bike on a regular basis.

Jonathan Krall

Five. I used to drive 15k miles/year, now I bike 5k miles/year and drive less than 1k miles/year. That’s a lot of roadway I’m not taking up.

dTagg

Who in the world would tease you for biking to work? I have all the respect in the world for those that bike to work and I would never dream of teasing someone for it. Oh, and I am not sure who invented it, but they have this thing called a backpack that works great at storing a change of clothes.

cyclist

Once you’ve ridden to work a few times, you’ll start to tease the lazy idiots who are stuck in their cars in traffic jams as your ride by them, getting exercise and feeling great. And when you ride by the dumbasses on stationary bikes and treadmills in a gym? You’ll laugh your ass off.

ArlingtonWay

[Post removed per comment policy]

Zumba

I like driving by bike riders when it is raining and they look so cold. Or passing them because they are slow. Look at me, I’m so bad!

Brad

You’re passing anyone in rush hour? Hats off to you for having the job that lets you come in at some ungodly hour of the day.

cyclist

Funny how even a little rain causes massive traffic jams, huh Zumba?

As for speed, my bike commute takes the same time as driving to work – except when there’s an accident or backup and driving is slower. That’s never a problem on a bike.

Zumba

Yeah, well I just drove home from work, made two stops for shopping and groceries. Way faster than a bike could do it. And with a good stereo for enjoyment. Beat that.

cyclist

I also stopped for shopping on my bike. Instead of diverting to a more suburban grocery to find a parking space, I stopped at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s at Clarendon, right on my path home. I was in and out before you could park.

And I have an iPod, with headphones or bike speakers.

And I bought a delicious, fatty dessert because I was working off the calories.

Corrine

You ride with your headpones on??? That is really irresponsible.

Corrine

And you both sound like little boys.

Zumba

We should race sometime.

Josh S

Maybe you should get out more then, Hank.

OutsideTheLaw

Now you know 7. I’ve done every day since Jan 20, about 15 miles round-trip every day, North Arlington to Connecticut & K. Last time I bought a tank of gas? Right after the New Year. If parking is $12/day and (as the IRS says) miles are worth [email protected], then driving costs about $20/day, $100/week, over $400/month. Oh, and I got some exercise while I was at it and reduced YOUR health insurance costs. Get with the program.

susan

The County Board will be giving even more (much more) in subsidies and funding to the 2% who commute by bicycle. Check out the video of today’s County Board meeting.

Brad

Have you ever heard of farebox recovery? More than half of your Metro ride is subsidized. Commuter trains are even worse, they usually range from 60-70% in subsidies. The operating theory behind farebox recovery is that the added riders means less wear and tear on the roadways and therefore less cost to the government. Bicyclists don’t even come remotely close in maintenance or cost per ride in this regard. So you’re barking up a tree without actually understanding what you’re talking about.